Chapter Twenty-One: The Unique Beauty of Killing and Drinking (Part Two)

“How heartless you are. After all I've done to help you, you thrust your sword at me.” The face of Southern Breeze, formed from the wind, swayed and flickered, as if at any moment it might vanish, yet this only added to her allure.

At the corner of his lips, Bright Moon Willow revealed a cold smile and spoke, “You did indeed help me, but now I must leave. You are of no further use to me. If you cling to me any longer, next time I will truly kill you.”

Southern Breeze’s face, shaped by the wind, slowly dissolved. “Why are men always so heartless…?” Her plaintive voice faded away with the breeze.

That night, the Spirit Realm was ablaze with lights. Countless people hurried about, searching for any trace of Bright Moon Willow, but their efforts yielded nothing. All signs indicated he had already departed the Spirit Realm.

“Did he say anything before he left?” Flower Without Moon stood by the bedside, asking the reclining Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu sat up, pulling the blanket closer around himself, and replied, “He said he was going to find Swordless Willow and kill him.”

Flower Without Moon said no more, only sighed after a long silence and turned to leave. Before he departed, he told Zhou Yu, “This matter does not concern you.”

Zhou Yu lay back, eyes open, staring blankly until the dawn sun gradually rose in the east.

“Du Niang, prepare for the channeling.” Zhou Yu closed his eyes.

He appeared in a void, surrounded by darkness, only the fragmented red rivers overhead glowing faintly.

Du Niang appeared at his side, her expression grave as she gazed upon the broken red rivers, slowly clenching her delicate fists.

“Begin.” Zhou Yu gradually faded into the void, transforming into scattered red lights that filled the space, illuminating the world with a gentle glow.

Du Niang nodded, turning into a streak of green light that merged into the void.

In the next instant, a streak of green light shot out from one broken river, piercing the darkness and splitting the void, instantly connecting with the nearest broken river.

The red dots in the void adhered to the green lightning, and even after the lightning vanished, they remained—though faint, like a thread-thin red line linking two mighty rivers.

That thread-thin red line, as if ready to snap at any moment, did not actually break. When the green lightning struck again, connecting the two broken red rivers, the once faint and slender red river grew thicker and more vivid.

On the bed, Zhou Yu’s entire body was drenched in sweat. His closed eyes were tightly shut, brows furrowed, as if enduring immense pain. The agony brought by channeling was beyond words; Zhou Yu could only grit his teeth and persevere.

Elsewhere, another man was sweating profusely.

Zuo Hou wiped his bare forehead with a white handkerchief, then wiped his neck and limbs.

“His target is you,” an aged voice sounded from within the heavy knight’s armor.

The knight before Zuo Hou was dressed identically to all other knights, save for one distinction—he stood in front of Zuo Hou without a hint of reverence.

Knights who showed no respect to the Beast Domain either had a special status, or possessed absolute strength. This knight was clearly the latter.

“Elder Six, your warning is timely, but is Bright Moon Willow’s strength not a bit excessive?” Zuo Hou wiped his face again. The Beast Sect had secretly dispatched their reclusive Elder Six to deal with emergencies, and now, with fifteen elite knights slain, how could he remain unmoved?

“Xiao Dao’er, tonight you stay with me. Go nowhere,” said Elder Six of the Beast Sect.

A heavy weight was lifted from Zuo Hou’s heart, and a smile appeared on his face. “Thank you, Elder Six. But will Bright Moon Willow return?”

“Who knows where he’s hiding now? Perhaps the Spirit Realm has concealed him.”

“That’s impossible. If the Spirit Realm had hidden him, I would know.” Zuo Hou accidentally let slip, quickly adding, “I mean, the Spirit Realm wouldn’t do such a thing.”

“Elder Gold requests the Beast Sect envoy to come to the council hall to discuss the alliance,” called a Spirit Realm apprentice from outside.

Zuo Hou rose, tucked the white handkerchief into his chest, and cursed under his breath, “Discuss your damned business!” But he still left the room.

The alliance to resist the Demon Clan was a matter for all humanity. The various sects and nations endlessly quarreled over their respective responsibilities and the number of powerful experts they must provide.

Everyone knew that powerhouses were the foundation upon which the great factions stood in this world. If too many were lost defending against the Demon Clan, even if the demons were repelled, other sects or forces might take advantage.

An alliance, in truth, was little more than a negotiation. In the council hall, arguments raged, faces flushed with anger, yet privately, messengers exchanged information and made deals, leaving Gold Unchanging feeling deeply troubled.

The Spirit Realm had already mobilized nearly all its strongest, yet these foolish envoys wasted time bickering for petty gains and selfish desires. That day’s discussions, like the previous one, yielded no progress.

Yesterday, Flower Without Moon missed the meeting to take Zhou Yu to the plains. Watching everyone leave, he shook his head and said to Gold Unchanging, “I knew they’d be like this. Have you reached any decision, Elder Gold?”

Gold Unchanging sat unmoving, saying, “These people are truly shameless. I allowed them to deliberate, yet they only shirk their responsibilities.”

Flower Without Moon sighed and walked toward the door. “If Master were here, there would be no need for discussion—only orders.”

Gold Unchanging’s expression stiffened, a flicker of hatred in his eyes. He said to Flower Without Moon’s retreating figure, “That is autocratic.”

Flower Without Moon did not respond. In his heart, he sighed. At the gravest moment for all humanity, they still could not unite their voices. Yes, humanity could never truly speak with one voice, but if all others were silenced and only one spoke, then the world of mankind would be left with but a single voice.

Such a method was certainly autocratic, but in times of catastrophe, it was the most effective. Moreover, the Spirit Realm’s master, Ling Youzi, was the strongest in this world.

“Master, where are you?” Flower Without Moon gazed at the crescent moon emerging from behind the clouds, tinged with a faint blood-red glow. “Bright Moon Willow, where are you?” Standing in the corridor, staring at the moonlit sky, he lost himself in thought. A night breeze swept past, skirting Flower Without Moon and rushing onward into the distance.

His gaze shifted from the bloody crescent moon in the sky to the retreating wind, and something unusual appeared in his eyes.

Flower Without Moon extended his left hand into the night air, and astonishingly, caught the formless, shapeless wind in his palm. He held it beneath his nose and inhaled gently.

A faint scent of blood and icy chill entered his nostrils. Flower Without Moon lifted his head, looking toward the distant dark night, and murmured, “Since you have gone, why do you return?”